Pavlov hosts reading contest "Student Senators"’ at Michigan Capitol

LANSING—Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair Twp., on Tuesday hosted the winners of his “Be a Senator For a Day” summer reading contest at the Michigan Capitol. Twenty-three students from St. Clair and Lapeer counties traveled to Lansing with their parents to participate in a mock committee hearing, a capitol tour and a pizza party.

After a group photo in the Senate Chamber and a guided tour of Michigan’s historic, 134-year-old Capitol building, the “Student Senators” vigorously debated the merits of a hypothetical bill to require uniforms in Michigan’s public schools in a mock committee hearing chaired by Pavlov.

Elaina Wizinsky, a fifth-grader from Metamora, said, “I am really excited to be here at the Capitol. It’s cool because I want to be a lawyer or in government, and I get to see this in real life.”

Her mother, Susan Wizinsky, who accompanied her to the Capitol, agreed. “This is a great opportunity for my daughter and all the students. This takes what they learn in school and makes it real,” she said.

“I want to thank the Lapeer and St. Clair public libraries for partnering with us to coordinate a successful summer reading program for all the students,” Pavlov said. “I hope this real-world civics lesson will spark interest in these talented students to become future leaders who help build a better Michigan.”

The summer reading contest was held June 17 through Aug. 10, and was open to all students first-fifth grade in Lapeer and St. Clair Counties who completed their local public library’s summer reading program. Pavlov’s office received nearly 300 entries for the competition. Two randomly selected winners from each participating library were invited to experience a day at the Michigan Capitol as a “student senator.”